Liverpool vs Chelsea: Predicted lineups today and confirmed team news

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Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Premier League

Salah is unlikely to be fit in time to face his former side (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea are expected to be without a number of players for their Premier League with Liverpool this afternoon.

While there is an FA Cup final to look forward to next weekend, the Blues’ league campaign is spiralling towards a dreadful conclusion, losing six games on the bounce and scoring just once in that run.

Robert Sanchez was involved in that dreadful head-to-head collision with Morgan Gibbs-White during Monday’s defeat against Nottingham Forest with both men requiring stitches.

The former Brighton goalkeeper will not be involved today, nor will Jesse Derry who was also involved in another sickening clash of heads in a separate incident.

To add to Chelsea’s woes, both Alejandro Garnacho and Pedro Neto are expected to miss out with knocks. With Estevao’s season over due to a serious hamstring injury and Jamie Gittens sidelined, it leaves Calum McFarlane very light on the wings.

In better news for the Blues, Reece James and Levi Colwill trained this week. Colwill played the second-half against Forest having also played a full 90 for the Under-21s in April.

Liverpool meanwhile hope to have Alexander Isak available to start after he missed the defeat at Manchester United last time out.

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Hull City v Chelsea - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round

Garnacho and Neto are both carrying knocks (Picture: Getty)

The Sweden international returned to training on Thursday with Arne Slot hopeful he can have a role to play. Giorgi Mamardashvili also returned to training this week and will be pushing to reclaim his place in goal with Alisson Becker still out.

Mohamed Salah meanwhile is still to return to training after his hamstring issue and is set to miss out again.

Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate missed training earlier this week but both were back among the group on Friday.

Chelsea XI to face Liverpool – Metro prediction

With no wingers fit, Calum McFarlane may turn to Enzo Fernandez to occupy a more advanced role once again.

Joao Pedro is also an option to drop deep if Liam Delap gets the nod up top.

While Colwill has only recently returned to action after his ACL injury, he will be desperate to be fully up to speed for next weekend’s FA Cup final against City. A starting role today at Anfield would certainly aid that.